Hostage

03.06.13

U.N. Peacekeepers Held Near Syria

Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters, via Landov

The United Nations confirmed Wednesday that roughly 20 peacekeepers have been detained by an armed group near Syria. The peacekeepers are being held in the controversial Golan Heights territory, on the border of Syria and Israel. A video of a man claiming to be part of the group “Martyrs of Yarmouk” says he will not release the captives until Syrian government forces withdraw from the village of Jamla. “If no withdrawal is made within 24 hours, we will treat them as prisoners,” the captor said.